Page 41 of Highland Vows of Betrayal

"Argh!" he exclaimed, disoriented, allowing Noah to kick his hand and drop the broadsword. The man fell into the loch, crashing beneath the surface and mixing with the water.

Noah snatched up the sword just as the other man drew an arrow and pointed it at his head.

They froze in stalemate, staring at one another, yet Noah saw he was not the prize in this game. The attacker’s trophy was none other than Scarlett.

Aye, she is their target.

The man’s fingers shifted on the bow to release another arrow. Knowing he couldn’t take a chance of being hit, he lashed out with the broadsword, knocking the arrowhead from the man’s hands. Weaponless, he scrambled for his belt, searching for anything he could use to defend himself.

Noah took the chance to hurry back, and he scrambled onto the riverbank.

“Scarlett?”

“There’s more!” She said urgently behind him, pulling at his waistcoat. He looked around to see her pointing at the other three men, now running from the mound they placed themselves at. Two had crossbows drawn, ready to fire, the other pointed at them.

“I hope ye can run fast, Scarlett.” Noah clutched the broadsword in one hand and reached for her with his other.

“Of course I can run!”

“Let’s go!” he barked, and they ran through the trees. She was partially clothed now; her gown skew-whiffed on her shoulders from where she threw it on, her boots only half-laced.

“What of the horses?” she asked as Noah sprinted through the trees, dragging her with him.

“By the time we got them, we’d be shot through. Keep running!” Noah called. “Please,” he added when he expected her to argue again.

They jumped over tree roots, moving away from the loch and the boggy grounds onto the harder surface of the forest floor. Shouts behind them betrayed they were not alone, their exit not fast enough. Scarlett may have been a quick runner, but she wasn’t as fast as him, and he pulled ahead with arms outstretched between them as he dragged her on.

“They’re closer.”

“I ken!” he snapped, not glancing back.

Two arrows were released. Noah heard the unmistakable whine through the air as the weapons zinged toward them.

“Keep down.” An arrow flew over their heads, narrowly missing Noah’s arm and landing in a tree trunk beside his elbow, splintering the grey bark into fragments. The other arrow found its mark.

How many arrows do they have, damn it!

“Ah!” Scarlett cried, wounded but still stumbling to keep up with him.

Noah turned round, coming to a sharp stop. Scarlett was still running, and they became entangled on the ground, with Noah attempting to shield her by pulling her behind the thickest oak tree he could find.

“Where? Where’s the injury?” he demanded, quickly running his hands over her arms as he thrust the broadsword he’d taken from the cloaked attacker in his belt.

Scarlett remained silent, her gaze fixed on the wound in her upper arm. The green gown was ripped open, the fabric fraying. The arrow had skinned her, blood was dripping down. She knew it could have been a lot worse. "They're trying to kill us," she said quietly, jerking her head around. “Where are they?”

She’s stronger than she knows.

“They’re too close, Scarlett. If we are going tae get out of this, I need ye tae trust me. Can ye do that?” he asked, leaning toward her. He already heard the enemy's shouts getting closer, their feet pounding on the earth and tree branches cracking as the attackers plowed through. Any second now, the chasers would be upon them. “Dae ye trust me?”

“Aye,” she said without hesitation. “What do we do?”

“Follow me.” He took her hand and drew her toward the darkest clump of trees.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

“Here. Hunker down here.” Noah pushed Scarlett down. She scrambled in the undergrowth, falling to her knees.

“What are ye doing? I thought we were running!”